
Planning for your career is essential for personal growth and professional development. You're more likely to be happy and successful in your career if you choose a role that suits your interests and personality, values and skills. Planning is the first stage of your career journey.
If you're not sure which direction your career will take when you graduate, explore the careers associated with your area of study.
The first stage of the career planning process involves self-analysis. Who am I and what do I want from a career? To begin, ask yourself:
Once you complete this stage, you'll understand who you are and what you want from your career. And you'll know what you can offer potential employers.
Researching the labour market will increase your awareness of career options. A good way to learn about a sector or industry is to work in it. If possible, try to secure employment in the sector you'd like to work in once you graduate. The experience will be useful when it's time to decide on a career.
If you're unable to secure paid work, find out if voluntary work is available. This could be a good way to find out more about the industry and employer. Work experience, whether paid or voluntary, is a good way to gain contacts who will help you in your career.
Another way to research the labour market is online. The following websites are a good place to start.
Deciding on a career will be one of the big decisions you make in life. It's important to remember though that no decision need be for life. You should remain open to a range of career possibilities.
Following your research and self-analysis, you will have a better idea of the right career fit for you. When you've narrowed down your options, consider which one:
Finally, you may want to reflect on how you feel about choosing one option over another.
If you're struggling to decide on a career path, have a chat with your friends and whanau. They know you well and will be happy to help you with this decision. Otherwise you can contact one of our career consultants.
Visit Careers NZ to find out more about making a career decision.
You're now ready to update your CV and start finding work. But before you do that, why not put your networking skills to work. Attending career events is a good way to make new contacts and seek out job opportunities. Many professional associations hold local and national events too.
Build your network, highlight your achievements and find job opportunities with social media. LinkedIn and Twitter are two platforms that cater to professionals. They're also a good way to follow professional associations and influencers.
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Last updated on Thursday 26 November 2020
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